IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR A HIGH QUALITY TREATMENT, VETERANS THERAPY IN PALM BEACH COUNTY OFFERS A 20% DISCOUNT TO ALL VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
As the United States wraps up its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the significant public health issues related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) will return home with many of the returning troops.
While veterans of past wars also suffered from the symptoms of what we now know as PTSD – nightmares, anxiety, depression, flashbacks, hyper-vigilance, and hyper-arousal – the statistics from Iraq and Afghanistan are startling:
- 2.2 million served in Iraq, or Afghanistan
- 1 in 5 returning veterans suffer from PTSD, and lacking treatment – the number could be as high as 1 in 3 (2008 RAND study)
- Or 440,000 to 770,000 service people with PTSD
- 3,400 suicides by active duty service personnel (1 suicide every 36 hours)
- 1/3 of military spouses report depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders
- High rates of divorce, homelessness, substance abuse, family issues, and un/underemployment.
As we face the growing public health challenge of PTSD/TBI, exploring new paths to progress is essential. This is something we recognize in veterans therapy in Palm Beach County. Creative expression based programs are one such path.
STATISTICS FOR PTSD IN VETERANS AND CIVILIANS, ACCORDING TO MAKETHECONNECTION.NET
The statistics for PTSD in Veterans — and the general population — paint a revealing picture of trauma, stress, and the rates of PTSD among civilians and Veterans of various service eras. For example, 7-8% of the general U.S. population will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
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About 50% of women and 60% of men overall will experience at least one trauma in their lifetime. For the general public, this may include surviving, or witnessing a motor vehicle accident. For Veterans, this may mean surviving an IED explosion, or an accident during a training exercise, or witnessing the death, or injury of a friend.
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Roughly 10% of women overall will develop PTSD at some point in their lives. That’s compared to 4% of men. (Learn more about women, trauma, and PTSD.)
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12% of Gulf War (Desert Storm) Veterans experience PTSD each year. That number rises to about 15% among Vietnam Veterans and as high as 11-20% for Veterans of operations called Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. There is historical and anecdotal evidence of PTSD affecting Veterans of wars before these as well. In the World War I era, PTSD was known more commonly as “shell shock,” and as far back as the Civil War, symptoms were referred to as “soldier’s heart” and “irritable heart.”
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Military sexual trauma can be another cause of PTSD. Among Veterans who use VA health care, 23% of women reported being sexually assaulted while in the military. 55% of women and 38% of men in VA care also reported experiencing sexual harassment. (Learn more about military sexual trauma.)
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VA operates nearly 200 specialized programs for the treatment of PTSD. Are you experiencing signs of PTSD? Allay Veterans therapy in Palm Beach Gardens is here to help.
More than a decade of war in the Middle East has pushed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to the forefront of public health concerns. The last several years have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans seeking help for PTSD, shining a light on this debilitating condition and raising critical questions about appropriate treatment options and barriers to care.
While PTSD extends far beyond the military—affecting about eight million American adults in a given year—the problem is especially acute among war veterans. Not only are recent veterans at higher risk of suffering from PTSD than those in the general population, they also face unique barriers to accessing adequate treatment.
These barriers include the requirement that they have either an honorable, or general discharge to access Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical benefits, long waiting lists at VA medical centers, and the social stigma associated with mental illness within military communities.
According to a study conducted by the RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research, less than half of returning veterans needing mental health services receive some treatment, and of those receiving treatment for PTSD and major depression, less than one-third are receiving evidence-based care.
(source: PTSD: By the Numbers: https://maketheconnection.net/whats-new/ptsd-statistics )
LEARN MORE ABOUT VETERANS THERAPY IN PALM BEACH GARDENS
Trauma can come in many different shapes and sizes and sometimes it may be hard to identify. Here at Allay Health and Wellness, we provide a relaxing environment that allows you to work through your trauma.
WE OFFER A 20% DISCOUNT TO ALL VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
Aside from PTSD, we also offer treatments for depression, burnout, and anxiety. For more information, Contact Us or call us at (561) 421-6444.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.